Crank and gear case cleaning apparatus



May 19,, 1936. J K DELANO 2,041,529

CRANK AND GEAR CASE CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 21, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet l attorney O N A L E D K I..

CRANK AND GEAR CASE CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 21, 1954 4 Sheets- Sheet 2 dames Kflelano WI I mum May 19, 1936. J. K. DELANO CRANK AND GEAR CASE CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 21, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Uams K. Delano.

May 19, 1936. .1. K. DELANO CRANK AND GEAR CASE CLEANING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 21, 1934 James K llelano.

Own

(Itiomeg Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CRANK AND GEAR CASE CLEANING APPARATUS 3 Claims.

The invention described herein is for the purpose of cleaning the crank-case pans of internal.

combustion engines and especially engines which have compartments formed by bailies built into the lower part of the crank-case pan, the bafiles being for the purpose of preventing the too rapid transfer of the oil supply from one end of the pan to the other and when the vehicle is inclined, as in climbing up or going down a grade, and to prevent splashing or surging on starting or stopping quickly.

The average automobile of today has the crankcase pan divided into several compartments by partitions, baflies or bulkheads which fit fairly close to the sides and bottom of the pan, but which are not oil tight, and in some cases these partitions have a top to which they are secured and which divides the pan into an upper and a lower compartment, the lower compartment being subdivided into compartments by the partitions thus dividing up the lubricant which is contained therein.

The drain opening is usually placed either at one end in the bottom of the pan or upon one side, and it is almost an impossibility to remove the sediment which forms from the wear of the engine parts and the breaking down of the oil under heat, etc., by draining the pan as the heavy sediment is prevented from draining out by the bafi'le plates and collects upon the bottom and in the corners of the separate compartments.

Filling the pan with a light oil and running the engine does not agitate this sediment as the connecting rods in. the modern engine do not dip into the lower compartment of the pan, hence when draining, only a small part of the dirt is removed and a large percentage is left behind to mix with any fresh lubricating oil and gradually by the running of the engine for a few days to contaminate the new oil with the left over sediment resulting in greatly reducing its value as a lubricant.

The sediment in the average engine consists v of carbon, grit, finely divided metal, such as iron, steel, babbitt, road dirt, etc., and an oil sludge which is a heavy bodied mixture caused by atmospheric condensation in the crank-case, and it is highly important that at no time during the cleaning operation when once this sediment Devices have been made for the purpose of cleaning the pan by employing a cleaning fluid under pressure and injecting this into the crankcase and these devices do very well when the stream of fluid can be directed against the sedi- 5 ment, but it is almost an impossibility to get at any part of the pan except where the nozzle of the cleaner is inserted, hence these types of cleaners do a good job on one compartment only and cannot reach the sediment in the other compart- 10 ments.

Other types of cleaners circulating a cleaning fluid into the crank-case by putting it into the filler pipe and draining it out at the drain plug opening, but this method only cleans a short path 15 between where it enters and the drain opening and does not reach the deposits of sediment which have collected back of the baflie plates.

In other devices for this purpose where cleaning fluid is injected into the crank-case through 20 the drain hole and then sucked out again, this being accomplished either by a double .acting pump, or one pump for injecting the liquid and another pump for drawing it out, the direction of flow of the liquid through the pump or pumps is 25 governed by manually operated valves placed in the pipe line, but in such devices depending upon the operator, the action can not be quick enough to prevent the settlement of the sediment in the crank-case between the injections and with 30 drawal.

In such devices the operator must be in constant attendance working the controls and should the pressure be misjudged and one of the valves remain closed the apparatus will become damaged. It is also highly important that the injection and withdrawal cycle be operated as fast as possible to prevent the stirred up heavy bodied sediment from settling.

To produce the desired results with such a push 40 and pull system it must be accurately timed so that the removal of the fluid takes place immediately after the completion of the injection and before the sediment has time to settle, and from the first injection until all of the fluid has been removed from the crank-case the sediment must be kept agitated and kept in motion not only to prevent settlement but to loosen and wash away the remaining adhering sediment.

By the use of a proper motor either A. C. or D. C. constant speed can be maintained and by knowledge of the pump capacity and quantity of fluid required, and the proper gear ratios the operation of the device will be accurately timed and no loss of time take place between injections and withdrawals, except the lapse of time which is provided for the fluid to function as provided.

As an illustration of the difliculties encountered in cleaning out the deposit from pans which are formed with bafl'ie plates and divided into compartments, some of which are also closed at the top, would be to take a small heap of dirt and place it upon a saucer and invert over this a tin can, and then try to remove thedirt from under the can by directing a stream of water into the saucer, and it will be seen that it is almost impossible to reach and dislodge the dirt and wash it away from under the can.

To take care of these conditions, I have worked out a method and apparatus by which I can agitate and wash out the deposited sediment within the compartments formed by the baflle plates in the pan, by causing the cleaning fluid to have a tidal flow between the several compartments of the pan, and I have illustrated this method in the drawings in a graphic manner with views showing the condition of the pan upon the different steps of the process.

The object of the invention is to provide both a method and apparatus for carrying out the same which will surely and quickly dislodge and remove the dirt and sediment which has collected in the compartments formed in a crank-case pan.

Another object of the invention being to provide in such a device automatic timed means whereby upon the completion of each injection of liquid into the crank-case pan it is instantly removed and the loosened sediment carried with it.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the liquid is cleaned between each injection.

Another object being to provide means whereby the liquid is heated before each injection into the pan.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel construction and combination of parts as will hereinafter be fully described and claimed, and further illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and in which like figures of reference refer to corresponding parts in all of the views, and it is understood that slight changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I do not deem it necessary to describe and illustrate in detail each part of the apparatus employed as several different constructions may be used, and I have therefore in the drawings shown the apparatus in schematic form and wiring diagrams to illustrate the electric installation required.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatical view showing a sectional view of an automobile crank-case pan having battle plates and indicating the sediment in the bottom of the pan and against the bafile plates and also indicating the cylinder and piston or one form of my apparatus. In this view, the cylinder has a charge of cleaning fluid; the pision is in its raised position and the service hose is entered into the drain opening of the pan.

Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 are similar views, but showing the conditions existing under diflerent stages of the injection and suction strokes, and how the sediment is loosened and removed.

Figure 6 indicates a cross sectional view of the crank-case pan, to further illustrate the location of the Laflle plates.

In Figure 3 of the drawings it is shown where the fluid in the several compartments of the crankcase has reached its level in all compartments.

Time is given for this flow of fluid to pass the bafile plates, by the piston 20 having reached the bottom of the injection stroke. As there is very little movement at the two extremes of the stroke, there is a pause given to the flow of fluid at these two points allowing a small period of time to allow the fluid to equalize its levels in the several compartments of the crankcase.

Figure '7 shows a diagrammatical view of one form of apparatus for carrying out my invention; some of the parts being shown in section.

Figure 8 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical installation required to operate this form of the apparatus.

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail view partly in section of one end of the wiper arms.

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail view partly in section of the air valve.

Figure 11 is a diagrammatical view of another form of apparatus for carrying out my invention.

Figure 12 shows the wiring diagram for the same.

Figure 13 is a vertical sectional view of the kind of apparatus that would be employed to carry out the idea as indicated in Figure 11.

Figure 14 is a schematic view of the rotary valve.

Referring to the drawings:

In Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, I have illustrated the crank-case pan of a well known make of automobile which shows the bafiie plates H and the cover plate l2 which is formed with the depressions I3, and this illustrates the usual type of divided pan to form compartments M.

In these figures I have indicated a part of my apparatus comprising a pump cylinder l5 which is designed to hold a supply of cleaning fluid l6, and this cylinder l 5 is connected by a service hose l7 and nozzle It? to a bushing attached to the drain opening IQ of the crankcase pan l0.

In Figure l, the piston 20 of the pump I5 is shown at the top of its stroke and the pump filled with the fluid; no injection having been made as yet, but the old lubricant having been drained out leaving the sediment as indicated.

In Figure 2, the piston is shown as having made a part of its downward or injection stroke and a part of the liquid has been forced through the pipe I! into the central compartment I 4 of the pan; the level of liquid raising quickly in this central compartment and flowing through the small openings between the baffle plates l l and the sides and bottom of the pan in into the adjacent compartments, as indicated by the arrow heads. Some of the liquid passing through the deposited sediment dislodging the same and washing and mixing it into the body of the fluid.

In Figure 3, the injection stroke has been completed and all of the fluid has been injected into the pan I0 and has reached its level in all of the compartments I4.

In Figure 4 is shown the piston starting upward on the suction stroke, which follows instantly upon the completion of the injection stroke, and it will be seen that the liquid is first exhausted or sucked from the central compartment [4 and the level in this compartment is lowered before the level in the adjacent compartments, as the liquid has to pass from these adjacent compartments into the central compartment through the small opening between the baffle plates l l and the sides and bottom of the pan l 0 before entering the central compartment l4 and thus out through the pipe IT. The sediment lodged in the cracks and corners is thus washed with the liquid into the central compartment for removal.

In Figure 5 is shown the piston 29 upon the completion of its suction stroke having drawn all of the liquid and sediment from the pan I9 into the pump I5. This cycle of operation being repeated a predetermined number of times and without any pause between the injection and sue-- ment to the-other through the cracks and seams that scours out the deposits of sediment.

Referring to Figure 7 of the drawings in which I have shown a diagrammatical view of an apparatus for carrying out the steps of my invention, I have added means for cleaning the liquid after each removal from the crank-case pan, and also means for heating the liquid before each injection into the pan, although both of these steps may be eliminated if desired.

In this drawing, I have shown the pump cylinder I5 and the piston 29; While said piston 29 is reciprocated by the connecting rod 26 pivoted thereto and to a gear wheel 22 which is inmesh with and rotated by a pinion 23 on a shaft 24 upon which is secured a gear wheel 25 in mesh with and rotated by a worm 26 mounted on a motor shaft 21 of the motor 28.

Said pump I5 is provided with an inlet 29 from a supply tank 39 having a filler pipe 3| and cover 32; while within said tank 39 is mounted a float 33 which operates a valve 34 in the bottom of said tank, and to the float 33'is attached a cable 35 from the indicator level gage 36; while the bottom of the pump I5 is provided with an outlet pipe 31, T 38 and drain pipe 39 having the cock 49.

The bottom of the tank 39 is connected to the T 39 by a pipe 4| within which is located a check valve 42, and from this same T 38 a pipe 43 leads to the bottom of a heater 44, and from the top of said heater 44 a flow pipe 45 conveys the liquid through a check valve 46 and T 41 to'the service pipe II with its nozzle 48.

The heater 44 is provided with an electrical heating element 49 and a thermostatic control 295.

By the use of a centrifuge there is no delayed flow to pump which is the case where cloth or other types of filters are employed for removal of the dirt, as they become clogged up and impede the fiow. Also by cleaning the interior of the centrifuge after each completed cleaning operation the caked and packed sediment being removed, I have provided a device that will operate at high efficiency.

This liquid cleaner comprises a two part casing 59 and 5| secured together as at 52 and formed with the aligned bearings 53 and 54 within which are rotatably mounted the upper and lower tubular necks 55 and 56 of a centrifuge 51; the upper neck 55 having secured thereon a spur gear 58' which is in mesh with and rotated by a spur gear 59 secured on the lower end of the motor shaft 21, which is rotatably mounted in a bearing 69 formed in the upper casing 59.

Above and communicating with the neck 55 is a duct 6| which is attached by a pipe 62 and check valve 63 to the lower end of the heater 44.

The lower casing part 5| is also formed with a duct communicating with the lower neck 56 of the centrifuge 51 and this duct is attached by a pipe 64 to the T fitting 41. I

The lower casing 5| adjacent to and communieating with the duct 65 is provided with a valve 66 and a tubular boss 61 within which is slidably mounted a valve stem 68 having a head 69 for engagement with the valve seat 66; while the tubular boss 61 is provided with the drain pipe 19.

Adjacent to the lower end of the tubular boss 61 is placed an air vent valve 1| having the port 12 (see Figure 10) and a piston 13 to the end of which is pivoted the arm or lever 14 which is pivoted as at 15 to the casing boss 61 and also has pivoted thereto the outer end of the valve stem 68; the valve 69 being retained normally open by the action of the spring 16 mounted on said stem 68; the lever 14 being actuated by an electrical magnet or relay 1I as shown. These valves could be operated either manually or mechanically, if desired.

The port 12 of the air'valve 'II is for admitting air through the small pipe 18. and the pipe 62 to the upper part of the centrifuge during the operation of draining of the same.

For dislodging and removing the caked and deposited dirt and sediment from the corners of the centrifuge 5?, I have provided the shaft 89 which is freely rotatably mounted in the pivot bearings BI and 82 formed in the casing parts 50 I and 5|; and upon this shaft 89 is secured a wheel 83 to which are secured a number of scraper bent wires 84 (see Figure 9).

The purpose of this being that after the rotation of the centrifuge 51 has been stopped, the wheel'and scrapers, due to the momentum of the wheel 93 will continue to rotate at high speed and the scrapers 84 will remove the deposit and allow it to pass off with the liquid through the neck 56 and drain I9. I

The timing of the operations of the apparatus is controlled by a ratchet 99, which should have the same number of teeth as the number of strokes required by the piston 29 to complete one cleaning cycle. at a time by a finger 9| on the upper end of the connecting rod 2|, so that for each revolution of the gear 22 the ratchet 99 is rotated one tooth, and this ratchet 99 is provided with a cam arm 92 that will upon each complete revolution of the ratchet 99, strike a bumper 93 mounted on an arm 94 having an electrical contact 95 cooperating with the contact 96, the circuit being m0- mentarily broken when the last suction stroke is complete and all of the fluid is out of the crankcase.

Referring to the wiring diagram shown in Figure 8, by turning on the button I92 of the main switch the current is brought in by the mains I99 and I9I through the switch contacts I93 and I94 into and through the resistance I91 and the timer contacts 95 and 99 to the main I99. Also the magnet coil 2 and through the wire I98 to the wire I99.

As the coil H2 is in series with the motor 28 and it closes the contacts 9 and III of the coil II2, the push button I92 may now be released by the operator as there is enough current going through the resistance I91 to feed the coil I I2. The current passing from the main I99 through the switch contacts 95 and 96 and resistance I 91 and through the contacts H3 and 4 (which are normally closed) to and through the coil II2 to the wire I99, and through the closed contacts H9 and III to the main I9I, which This ratchet 99 being rotated one tooth the circuit broken through the coil II2 so that the contacts H0 and III open and every thing stops and the flushing operation is completed. It is very important that when this stoppage takes place the pump piston 20 be at the extreme of its up stroke so that the fluid can enter the cylinder through the duct 29 to again flll the cylinder.

Due to the momentum of the motor shaft 21 and centrifuge 51 the trip arm 82 will pass the bumper 93 allowing the contacts and 96 to close, but the drive operation can not be started up again without pushing the on button, because the relay II2 has opened the circuit.

The operation of the machine may be stopped at any time by pushing in the off button I20 which opens the circuit of the coil H2 and the contacts III) and III. Also should the heater 44 become too hot the thermostat 205 will break the circuit through its contacts and stop the heating circuit.

In the operation of this embodiment of my device as shown in Figure 7, the tank 30 is filled with fluid through the filler 3| and the float 33 raises and opens the valve 34, but due to the valve 42 having a spring check the liquid does not pass through this valve to the cylinder but flows through the duct 29 as the piston 20 is in its raised position so that the duct 29 is open, any liquid overflow from the piston 20 being carried through the pipe 201 to the top of the piston 20 and so back through the duct 29. The total capacity of both the supply tank and the pump as here indicated is three gallons, but which can be varied as desired, and of this total amount the pump I 5 holds two gallons and the supply tank 30, holds one gallon. The overflow pipe 201 is used to convey exccss oil from the cylinder I5 to the top of the piston 20 and so back to the tank 30 through the duct 29.

To start the cleaning operation, press the on button I 02, closing the circuit to the motor 28 and rotating the gears 26, 25, 23, and 22 which will reciprocate the connecting rod 2I and the piston 20 downward and inject the two gallons of fluid through the pipes H and 43 to the heater 44 and from there by the pipe 45 through the check valve 40 to the service hose I8 and so through the nozzle 48 into the crank-case I0, and as the circuit to the heater is closed, hot fluid is injected at its highest temperature as the heated oil does not have to pass through the pump or other parts of the system.

On the up or suction stroke of the piston 20, which follows immediately after the injection stroke is completed, the two gallons of liquid plus what dirt, sediment, etc., has mixed with it while in the crank-case pan I0, are sucked out through the nozzle 48, service hose I8 and pipes I1 and 64 to the duct 55 and up through the tubular neck 56 into and through the centrifuge 51, passing out through the upper neck 55, pipe 62 and check valve 63 to the pipe 43 back to the bottom of th pump I5 and so into the same.

As the liquid is passing up through the centrifuge 51 which is being rotated at high speed through the gears 58 and 59 from the motor shaft 21, the dirt, heavy particles, etc., contained in the liquid will, through the centrifugal action, be thrown to and remain in the outer periphery of the centrifuge 51, while the cleaner liquid will pass upward and back to the pump I5 as stated, leaving one gallon of the liquid in the centrifuge 51 on this suction stroke; while at the same time some of the liquid in the tank 30 has gone through the valve 34, pipe H and check 42 into the pump I5 to the amount of about one-half gallon.

During the injection stroke, which is now repeated, about one and one-half gallons are injected, and upon the suction stroke the other onehalf gallon is put into action; the float 33 dropping to close the valve 34 to prevent any air from entering the pump I 5, and in this way two gallons is in operation and that passing through the heater just before entering the crank-case is always at its hottest upon entering the crank-case pan.

The construction illustrated in Figures 11 and 13 differs from that shown in Figure 7, in that in place of employing a reciprocating pump for causing the injections and withdrawals, I have employed a rotary pump in connection with a special valve through which the fluid is passed in both the injection and withdrawal direction,

the direction of flow through this valve being w changed and timed in an automatic manner so that after the predetermined quantity of fluid has been injected into the crank-case, the valve will be operated to reverse the direction of flow of fluid so that the withdrawal will take place.

I have also provided an overriding clutch located between the motor shaft and the centrifuge so that for a period of time after the motor and pump have been stopped the centrifuge will continue to rotate for the purpose of cleaning the v' same by the means provided.

Also in this model I have introduced an electrically operated brake for instantly stopping the rotation of the motor shaft after the current supply has been cut off. However this could be accomplished in other ways than that shown.

In carrying out the method illustrated in these Figures 11 and 13, I have indicated an electrical motor 28 having a shaft 21 to the lower end of which is attached a rotary pump I30 mounted below the casing I3I.

Rotatably mounted on this shaft 21 is the centrifuge 51 by the bearing I32; the lower end of this bearing being formed with a clutch member I33 that engages with a clutch member I34 secured to the shaft 21 in such a manner that the shaft 21 will rotate the centrifuge 51 in one direction only and when the shaft 21 is stopped the centrifuge 51 will continue to rotate for a short time.

The upper end of the centrifuge 51 is formed with a tubular neck I35 through which the fluid is entered by the spout I36 of the supply tank I31 which is fllled in the usual manner through the filler 205 and which may be provided with a liquid level gage if desired.

The centrifuge 51 is surrounded by an inner casing I39 which is formed with a sump I40, and this inner casing I39 and sump I40 are enclosed in an outer casing I4I forming a fluid chamber between the walls of the casings I39 and NI; the upper part of the centrifuge 51 has a splash collar I42 and the outlet holes I43 through the sides thereof, while the ducts I44 communicate with the ducts I05 in the top thereof.

Below the centrifuge 51 and located in the chamber formed by the casings I39 and I are located the resistance heating elements I45 by which the fluid is heated.

Afour-way rotary valve I50 is indicated and this is operated to change the directionof flow therethrough by a shaft I 5I to which is attached a timing device for actuating said valve at predetermined times, and this valve is connected by the pipes I52 and I53 to the intake and outlet ports of the pump I30, and by the pipe I54 to the :bottom of the fluid chamber I55, and by the pipe I56 to the service hose I8.

Between the valve I50 and the chamber I55 the pipe I54 is provided with a T fitting I51 from which a pipe I58 leads to the tank I31; while between the fitting I51 and the tank I31 is placed a check valve I62, and between the bottom of the chamber I55 and the fitting I51 is placed a check valve I63.

A stand pipe I59 is also provided for the chamher I 55 and this is fitted with a sight level gage I60.

The timing mechanism for operating the valve I50 to reverse the flow therethrough at predetermined times, comprises a bevel gear I65 secured on the motor shaft 21 in mesh with and driving a bevel gear I66 mounted on a shaft I61. On the end of shaft I5I is mounted a bevel gear I68 which is in mesh with and is driven by either of the two bevel gears I12 and I13 which are freely rotatably mounted on the shaft I61.

This shaft I61 is squared or splined in its central portion and slidably mounted thereon is a clutch member I10 which is formed with the clutch teeth on both ends adapted to engage with the clutch teeth I 1| formed on the gears I12 and I13 for the purpose of rotating the shaft I5I in either direction.

For imparting a sliding movement in either direction to the clutch member I10, an arm I14 is provided having a forked end to engage an annular groove in the member I10; this arm I 14 being pivoted as at I15 and provided with a stud I06.

For shifting this timing clutch at predetermined intervals a worm I11 is mounted on the valve shaft I5I in mesh with a worm wheel I18, and on this wheel I18 is pivoted one end of a connecting rod I80, the other end being formed with an edge I8I which engages the teeth of a ratchet I16 which is mounted on a shaft I69 on which is placed a disk I6I having a notch I88 for the bumper I2I of a contact arm I82 having the contacts I83 and I84. It will thus be seen that as the ratchet wheel I16 and the cam or disk I6I are both secured upon the shaft I69 that as the worm wheel I18 is rotated, the arm I engaging the teeth of the ratchet I16 will rotate the same tooth by tooth and thus rotate the disk I6 I, which when the notch- I88 registers with the bumper IZI will allow the contacts I83 and I84 to separate.

A vertical arm I89 has its lower end pivoted as at 300, and is also pivoted at I85 to the arm I80 and at 30I to the arm I and is formed with a pointed end I86 for engagement with a spring actuated plunger I81 to effect a quick change from side to side. The arm I90 is formed with a slot to engage with the stud I06 to move the clutch arm I14.

In the designing of this apparatus it is important that the ratio of the worm I11 and wheel I18 be so that there is time allowed for the fluid from the tank I31 to completely drain into the centrifuge 51 and also to permit the complete drainage of the crank-case pan I0.

Also the ratchet I16 is so designed that by the rotation of the disk IN, the bumper I2I on the arm I82 will break the contacts I88 and I84 and stop the machine after the last withdrawal stroke.

The clutch 200 is of the usual friction type, and therefore, when the pins 200 and 203 contact together, the lower part of the shaft I5l will become stationary, and the upper part of the same shaft will continue to rotate.

The electrically operated brake I9I on the motor shaft is operated by the magnet I92 and comes on when the magnet releases.

Referring to Figure 12, the wiring diagram is shown for the construction showrrin Figure 11. The two mains I93 and I94 are indicated; the main I93 leading to the thermostat 205 on the heater, while the main I94 leads through the switch I95 to the other terminal of the heater I45. A circuit being made to the motor 28 by the wires I96 and I91, and to the brake I 9| by the wires I98 and I99; while between the main I94 and the timer disk I6I is placed the contact arm I82 and contacts I83 and I84, so that when the main circuit is closed by the switch I95 the motor will start, the magnet be energized to release the brake I9I and the heater I45 be operated; while at the same time through the gearing, the disk I6I will rotate by the action of the arm I80 and the wheel I16 while the contacts I83 and I84 remain closed, until the bumper I 2I reaches the notch I88 when the contacts I83 and I84 will open and the circuit be opened.

In the operation of the apparatus shown in Figures 11 and 13, the operator puts three gallons of cleaning fluid into the tank I55 through the filler pipe I59; the quantity of fluid being indicated by the sight ga e I60.

The crank-case having been drained of old oil, the service hose I8 is attached thereto in some suitable manner and the operator closes the switch I95 of the current mains to energize the motor 28 and also to release the brake I9I and to generate heat in the resistance element I45 of the heater which is immersed in the tank I55.

The pump I30 is operated through the rotation of the motor shaft 21 direct and through the ratchet clutch I33 the centrifuge 51 is rotated at high speed.

Assuming that the four-way valve I50 is in the proper position, the fluid will be pumped from the tank I55 through the check valve I63 and pipe I54 to the valve H0, and through the ports in said valve I50 and pipe I56 and hose I8 to the crank-case.

At the same time that this is beingdone, the gears I65 and I66 are being driven by the shaft 21 and the bevel gears I12 and I13 (either of which is engaged with the clutch I10) driving the bevel gear on the worm shaft I5I and through the friction clutch 200 operating the valve I50 to change the direction of flow therethrough.

After the worm wheel I18 which is rotated by the worm on the shaft I5I makes a predetermined part of a revolution it causes the lever I89 to move by the link I90 the shift lever I14 and clutch member I 10 into reverse engagement with the gear I13, which causes the shaft I5I to reverse its direction of rotation.

This causes the pump I30 by the reversal of the valve I50 to withdraw the fluid from the crankcase I0 by the hose I 8, pipe I56, through the valve I50 and through pipe I54 and check valve I62 and pipe I58 to the tank I31.

As this returned fluid from the crank-case has mixed with it dirt, etc., it is carried by gravity flow from the tank I31 and spout I36 into the neck I35 of the centrifuge 51 which it will fill to the level of the holes I43, through which it will overflow into the tank I55. The centrifuge in this case holding about one gallon of the fluid.

It is to be noted that the check valves I62 and I direct the flow to and from the tank I55.

The suction and pressure periods of the fluid are timed by the mechanism through the gear I18 so that they have a definite time between reversals of direction of flow due to the over riding spring actuated snap device as shown at I86 and I51, which assists the quick shifting of the clutch member I10.

The oscillating worm wheel I18 is also employed to operate the ratchet I16, until the disk I6I on the shaft- I69 makes one complete revolution so that the contacts I83 and I84 are broken after one revolution of this disk.

These contacts I83 and I84 being wired on the main feed circuit will when opened cause the stopping of the apparatus, and also by this opening of circuit the magnetic brake I92 is de-energized causing the brake to operate and stop the rotating of the motor shaft 21 but allow ing the centrifuge 51 to continue to rotate for some time.

The rotary valve I50 has a drive by the pins 202 and 203 which allows some lost motion in its operation to give the pump I30 time to allow for complete drainage from the crank-case before reversal of the flow, and also to allow for drainage of the fluid from tank I31 to tank I55.

The number of teeth in the ratchet I16 determine the length of time for the cleaning period.

It is to be noted that after the centrifuge 51 has retained one gallon of fluid out of the three gallons that was put in to start with, that two gallons are used in the cleaning operation. Upon the stopping of the apparatus by the opening of the contacts I83 and I84, the centrifuge 51, due to its momentum, will continue to rotate for a short time and is free to rotate due to the clutch I". The motor shaft 21 having been stopped by opening of the current and by the operation of the magnetic brake ISI.

The scrapers 84 will thus stand still while the centrifuge rotates about them and in this manner the heavy deposit of dirt, etc., upon the inner periphery of the centrifuge 51 will be removed and mix with the fluid therein.

As soon as the rotative speed of the centrifuge 51 is reduced sufllciently, the fluid therein, together with the accumulated dirt, will drop to the bottom and into the sump I40, where it will pass 01! through the drain pipe Hi.

It is to be noted that the fluid contained in the tank I55 is always being subjected to heat from the resistance elements I45.

Upon starting up the apparatus for the next cleaning operation, it is only necessary to add one gallon of fluid to the tank I55 to replace the gallon of used fluid that has been removed from the centrifuge 51.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a crank-case cleaning apparatus having a pumping member adapted to contain a fluid supply and a tubular connection for conveying the fluid to the crank-case, of automatic means for injecting a predetermined quantity of the fluid into the crank-case and withdrawing the same immediately, automatic means for repeating the injections and withdrawals for a. predetermined number of times, and automatic means for ceasing the operations when the last of the predetermined number of withdrawals of fluid is completed.

2. In a crank-case cleaning apparatus having a pumping member adapted to hold a fluid supply and a connection for conveying the fluid to the crank-case, of automatic means for heating the fluid within the apparatus, automatic means for regulating the degree of heat, automatic means for injecting the heated fluid into the crank-case.

automatic means for immediately withdrawing I? the fluid from the crank-case, automatic means for returning the fluid to the apparatus, automatic means for treating the fluid to remove the dirt therefrom, automatic means for repeating the injections and withdrawals for a predetermined number of times, and automatic means for stopping the operations of the apparatus upon the last withdrawal of fluid from the crank-case.

3. In a crank-case cleaning apparatus having a pumping member adapted to hold a fluid supply and a tubular connection for conveying the fluid to the crank-case, of electrical means for heating the fluid within the apparatus, automatic means for retaining a portion of the fluid within the apparatus, automatic means for injecting the remainder of the fluid into the crank-case in a predetermined number of injections, automatic means for withdrawing each injection from the crank-case and returning it to the apparatus,

automatic means for cleaning the fluid after each withdrawal from the crank-case, and automatic means for stopping the operations of the apparatus after the flnal injection has been withdrawn from the crank-case.

JAMES K. DELANO. 

